As part of and Arts and Health project for Galway 2020, artists Sarah Fuller and Manuela Corbari responded to the ever-changing challenges presented by COVID-19 and the needs of the paediatric setting by designing a bespoke shadowbox theatre which is being shared with children in paediatric units in the Saolta Group including University Hospital Galway (UHG) along with Mayo University Hospital, Portiuncula University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital.
Welcome to the Spring 2021 edition of the Saolta University Health Care Group newsletter featuring some of the developments and achievements that have been taking place in hospitals throughout the Group.
Click here to download a copy of the Saolta e-Newsletter Issue 45 Spring 2021
Healthcare staff across Galway are now being vaccinated in the newly established Vaccination Centre in the racecourse in Ballybrit. Healthcare staff from Galway University Hospitals, Community Healthcare West and staff from agencies funded by the HSE are now being provided with their COVID-19 vaccine at the racecourse.
The Saolta University Health Care Group is currently recruiting staff to support the roll out of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. The Group is looking for clinical staff (a minimum of 19.5 and maximum 39 hours per week) who are eligible to administer vaccines for an initial 3 month contract, which may be extended. The Group is also recruiting Health Care Assistants and administrative staff to support the vaccination centres.
In early January all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery was curtailed across the hospitals* in the Saolta group. In light of very significant pressure in the hospitals caused by COVID-19 and high community infection rates, it is now necessary to continue the current restrictions to ensure patient safety and wellbeing. The deferrals are in place for a further two week period and will be kept under review.
The HSE has joined with the Mayo County Council and the Gardaí in the county to appeal to the people of Mayo to help prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
The hospitals in the Saolta Group are deferring all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery from 05 January. Outpatient clinics will also be curtailed and some of these will take place virtually unless it is absolutely necessary for patients to be seen.
“We must stay home to protect ourselves and our loved ones”
Dr Breda Smyth, Director of Public Health in the West has urged the people of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon to stay home unless absolutely necessary and double down in their efforts to follow the HSE’s public health advice to help reduce the rapid spread of COVID-19 across our community.
